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[101]
In the meantime, there was a man, who was by birth a Jew, but brought
up at Sidon with one of the Roman freed-men, who falsely pretended, on
account of the resemblance of their countenances, that he was that Alexander
who was slain by Herod. This man came to Rome, in hopes of not being detected.
He had one who was his assistant, of his own nation, and who knew all the
affairs of the kingdom, and instructed him to say how those that were sent
to kill him and Aristobulus had pity upon them, and stole them away, by
putting bodies that were like theirs in their places. This man deceived
the Jews that were at Crete, and got a great deal of money of them for
traveling in splendor; and thence sailed to Melos, where he was thought
so certainly genuine, that he got a great deal more money, and prevailed
with those that had treated him to sail along with him to Rome. So he landed
at Dicearchia, [Puteoli,] and got very large presents from the Jews who
dwelt there, and was conducted by his father's friends as if he were a
king; nay, the resemblance in his countenance procured him so much credit,
that those who had seen Alexander, and had known him very well, would take
their oaths that he was the very same person. Accordingly, the whole body
of the Jews that were at Rome ran out in crowds to see him, and an innumerable
multitude there was which stood in the narrow places through which he was
carried; for those of Melos were so far distracted, that they carried him
in a sedan, and maintained a royal attendance for him at their own proper
charges.

Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.

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